China targeting state, local leaders in push to influence Beijing-friendly policies: intel officials
Fox News
The intelligence community said leaders at the state level are at risk of being targeted by China in an effort by Beijing to lobby for federal policies starting at the local level.
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The NCSC warned that Chinese influence operations in the U.S. are to expand support for PRC interests among state and local leaders and to use those relationships to "pressure Washington for policies friendlier to Beijing."
"The PRC understands U.S. state and local leaders enjoy a degree of independence from Washington and may seek to use them as proxies to advocate for national U.S. policies Beijing desires, including improved U.S. economic cooperation with China and reduced U.S. criticism of China’s policies towards Taiwan, Tibetans, Uyghurs, pro-democracy activists and more," the NCSC explained.